Cascading Lies: D.R. Willis

SYNOPSIS: Nick Davis is a survivor. First, there’s his family history that’s practically cursed, all thanks to a mysterious man named Roth Braun and the death of Nick’s uncle. Then, there’s his personal life, as Nick was recently pulled into an international ring of dark secrets that almost took his life. He sees disappearance as his only option at a clean slate.
Nick changes his name and location in an attempt to escape the bad luck that’s been following his family for decades. However, his attempt proves futile, as even in his new locale, everyone is out to get him. He makes the acquaintance of Jane—a troubled woman he can’t resist helping—and their relationship soon turns romantic, despite secrets they both hold tight.
Yet, the ghost of Roth Braun still lingers, as do other past indiscretions. The new life Nick hoped to build is wrought with terror and death. He can’t identify friend from foe, so he’s on the run for his life—but he won’t leave without Jane, who has some serious troubles of her own. Will Nick ever escape the horrible secrets of his past, or will he become their prisoner until he, too, becomes another ill-fated memory?

MY THOUGHTS: D.R. Willis (as he points out, don’t confuse it with Dr.) has crafted quite a trilogy. Readers will benefit highly from reading the books in order. However, this was the first of them I had read personally. By the end of the first chapter, I was able to ascertain most of the direction of this installment. Willis has mastered the art of switching between characters seamlessly so that readers easily stay on track.

I actually read the book in one sitting without realizing it! Even without prior attachment to any of the characters, I was riveted with the action & suspense. Nick is a flawed hero & as we become better acquainted with others in his life, we see why. Every day is a fight for his own life & he’s unable to trust even the most mundane people who cross his path.

Our super-villain is partly a conglomerate headed by one, intensely powerful individual who will stop at nothing to achieve success. Multiple, lower tier heroes & villains are a part of Nick’s life. Each is essential to the plot & are granted just enough time to be relevant & successful to support the larger plot. In all honesty, I’m amazed that there hasn’t been more buzz about this trilogy. It has everything that today’s modern reader wants in a series.

If you’re a fan of espionage and/or thrillers, the suspense will grab you. If romance is your genre, there’s enough love to go around. For those who wish to invest in a good mystery, the cloud veiling the super-villain will be perfect for you. I definitely was surprised by the ending. Hopefully, D.R. Willis will continue on with this series. It deserves attention & is an incredibly good read. Five stars is definitely what it deserves.

Synopsis & Pic belong to the author & publisher. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.